WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 3-0 BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA
(Saturday 17 March, 3:00PM)West Auckland continued their push for a top 5 place with a comfortable win over injury hit FA Vase Semi Finalists Billingham Synthonia.
It was West who took the initiative from the off and were ahead within the first couple of minutes when Brian Fairhurst came in at the back post to finish off a good move. However Synthonia quickly settled after the early set back with Daniel Hanafin forcing Mark Bell to push a shot round the post although the play was brought back for an offside flag. Steven Howden then saw a shot blocked on the line by the defence before Bell also blocked the midfielder's follow up shot following Hanafin's cross. Colin Iley, from an offside looking position, then crossed to find an onrushing Howden who turned the ball wide under pressure from 6 yards out, as Billingham had the best of the opportunities.
However a quick West break doubled the hosts advantage. Mark Bell did well to clear the ball out of the box under pressure from a corner, Leigh Grant got to the loose ball playing it to Ian Maddison who in turn sent a well placed first time ball through to Dale Jardine. The forward managed to hold off his marker before sliding the ball across John Jackson's goal and into the bottom corner. Minutes later the roles were reversed when Jardine sent Maddison clear but the midfielder's shot was half blocked by Jackson before being cleared to safety. A minute later Maddison saw his good header well held, low down to Jackson's right. The final chance of the half fell to Danny Key but his snapshot flew wide following Jardine's good work to win the ball back on the edge of the box.
Brian Fairhurst could have doubled his tally for the day in the 4th minute of the second half when Curtis Fleming could only help Mark Bell's long clearance into his path, but the West player saw his lob go narrowly over. Lee Ellison then caused more concern for John Jackson in the Synthonia goal when his lob on the edge of the area had him back peddling only for the ball to once again go narrowly over. Chances followed at both ends with Colin Iley's jinxing run ending up with a shot that was held by Bell, before Lee Ellison fired over Dale Jardine's cut back after more good work from the forward. Jackson then raced out of his goal to clear the ball for a throw as sub Jonathan Milroy looked to race onto a through ball behind the defence.
Mark Bell capped an impressive display pushing a well placed free kick round the post. West then somehow failed to scored after another quick break when the ball eventually came to Brian Fairhurst but his shot was blocked. The ball then rebounded quickly across goal to Jardine who fired across the face of the unguarded goal. Billingham sub Neil Radigan caused some concern late on when his cross in a strong wind flew onto the bar and away to safety however the three points were to be wrapped up in style by another sub Darren Kokes. Kokes, who also scored a superb goal in the last meeting between the two sides, picked up the ball just inside the half, turned and knocked it through the legs of his marker before holding him off, advancing towards goal and looping his shot over a helpless Jackson and into the top corner.
Team
1 Mark Bell
2 Michael Heckley
3 Danny Key
4 Jamie Middleton
5 Leigh Grant
6 Karl Everitt
(16. Garry Barnes 66 mins)
7 Lee Ellison
(12 Darren Kokes 80 mins)
8 Danny Richmond
9 Dale Jardine
10 Ian Maddison
(13 Jonathan Milroy 72 mins)
11 Brian Fairhurst
Sub Not Used
14. David Bayles
15. Kevin Bromley